Skip to the page content
Your donations
Passes our checks

Rhode Island Bar Foundation

EIN 05-6009376 · Cranston, RI

Public records show a registered, tax-exempt organization in good standing.

LegitimacyPassesRegistration and standingFinancial healthFair55 out of 100GovernanceGood79 out of 100Impact evidenceDescribes programsHow well its results are evidenced

What it says it does

RHODE ISLAND BAR FOUNDATION'S MISSION IS TO FOSTER AND MAINTAIN THE HONOR AND INTEGRITY OF THE PROFESSION OF LAW AND TO STUDY, IMPROVE AND FACILITATE THE ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE IN RHODE ISLAND, AS WELL AS PROMOTE THE STUDY OF LAW, RESEARCH THEREIN AND DIFFUSION OF KNOWLEDGE AND TO PROMOTE HIGH STANDARDS OF LEGAL EDUCATION.

Income
$3.5 million
Spending
$1.6 million
Spent on programs
93%
Reserves
-1.7 months of spending
Largest source of income
donations and private grants, 78%
Employees
1
Volunteers
0

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Financial health

Fair: 55 out of 100. Higher than 22% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Reserves

    0 of 35

    Spendable reserves are negative: it owes or has committed more than it holds.

  • Debt

    20 of 20

    It owes 8% of what it owns.

  • Living within its means

    15 of 15

    Income exceeded spending by 53% of income.

  • Income trend

    5 of 15

    Income fell 12% on the year before.

  • Spending floor

    15 of 15

    93% of spending went to programs and raising each dollar of donations cost 0 cents.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Governance

Good: 79 out of 100. Higher than 24% of charities in its peer group (crime and legal services, $1m to $10m).

  • Independent board

    5 of 25

    0 of 18 voting board members are independent.

  • Conflict of interest policy

    15 of 15

    Has a written conflict of interest policy.

  • Whistleblower policy

    8 of 8

    Has a written whistleblower policy.

  • Record keeping policy

    7 of 7

    Has a written policy on keeping and destroying records.

  • Board minutes

    5 of 5

    Keeps minutes of board meetings.

  • Board sees the tax return

    10 of 10

    Gave the board a copy of this return before filing it.

  • Independent check of accounts

    15 of 15

    Its accounts were audited by an independent accountant.

  • No reported misuse

    10 of 10

    Reports no diversion of assets, excess benefits or loans to insiders.

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Impact evidence

Describes programs. Its tax return describes what it does but we have found no measurable results in it.

Programs described in its return (3)
  1. $176,410 spent. CORE PROGRAM - MAINTAINS AND OPERATES A FACILITY THAT RENTS SPACE TO A RELATED NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION, THE RI BAR ASSOCIATION.
  2. $1.2 million spent. THE INTEREST ON LAWYERS TRUST ACCOUNTS - COLLECTS MONEY FROM IOLTA ACCOUNTS FROM RI ATTORNEYS. THE INCOME IS THAN DISTRIBUTED TO OTHER NON PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS THAT PROVIDE LEGAL ASSISTANCE TO THE POOR OF RHODE ISLAND, PROMOTE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LAW, IMPROVEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION FOR JUSTICE.
  3. $156,000 spent. SCHOLARSHIPS

Source: Form 990 for the year ending June 30, 2025, filed with the Internal Revenue Service. Rating method 2026.2. How we rate

Legitimacy checks

  1. Is it registered with the IRS? Passed.

    Listed in the IRS master file of tax-exempt organizations as a 501(c)(3) charitable organization.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  2. Has the IRS revoked its tax-exempt status? Passed.

    Not on the IRS automatic revocation list.

    Source: Automatic revocation of exemption list, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  3. Are donations tax-deductible? Passed.

    On the IRS list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible contributions.

    Source: Publication 78 data: organizations eligible for tax-deductible contributions, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  4. Is it keeping up with its IRS filings? Passed.

    Most recent return on file covers the year ending June 2025.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  5. How long has it been tax-exempt? Passed.

    Recognized by the IRS since July 1959.

    Source: Exempt Organizations Business Master File, Internal Revenue Service, file dated October 13, 2026.

  6. Is it in good standing with state regulators? Passed.

    Not on California's list of charities barred from soliciting. Other states are not yet checked.

    Source: May Not Operate or Solicit for Charitable Purposes list, California Attorney General, Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, file dated October 21, 2026.

Ratings and checks are our reading of public records, using the published method. They are not a statement about anyone's honesty. If you work for this organization, you can send corrections or results, confirm you want gifts through Veridonate, or ask to be removed from giving.